Sunday Wrap Up

I wanted to make a few comments today regarding Debbie's funeral service yesterday.

First of all, what a crowd! Many KP people told me they had never seen a crowd that large gather for a funeral visitation and service. I would estimate 1500, maybe more. One thing I noticed that I thought was a bit unusual was the times I would see people shedding tears not just around the casket but out in the hallway, in the fellowship hall, in the back of the church, or in the parking lot. And it just wasn't family, but friends, young people, neighbors, work peers, and fellow KP brothers and sisters. Debbie deeply touched a lot of people which was very evident everywhere on the grounds of Kings Point.

I have great admiration for Mike Kilburn. What he did yesterday was truly beyond belief. If you were there, I don't have to say anymore. I just don't know how a man can do all of what was required of him yesterday without divine strength. Throughout the day, I found myself studying him in awe. He just kept plowing ahead throughout the day. At times becoming overwhelmed with emotion and stopping to weep. But than gathering himself enough to be able to push himself forward.

I know everyone is praying for Mike and his family. But I ask that you especially hold up Mike with prayer and fastings. In the last two months he has been through much with Debbie's sickness and he also lost one of his best friends during this time. Lets keep loving them as the body of Christ. God will use you and I to bring healing over time...lots of time.

I want to thank the wonderful people at KP for all that you did Saturday and the days before for the Kilburn family. So many of you did so much that I cannot mention names for fearing of leaving people out. But we are a body, and every big and small part is crucial. I am so proud of the KP family!

I love you!

-Pastor

Some Saturday Thoughts...Debbie Kilburn

My family and I got back from Indiana Friday after visiting with my dad and mom over Thanksgiving. It was very nice. I brought my dad from the nursing home to eat Thanksgiving dinner with us. He is doing better than I have seen him in a while. He was excited to be at his house with all the family for Thanksgiving. He might be going home permanently next week.

I am writing this before I head to the church for Debbie's funeral service today. None of us are looking forward to this. I have been doing funerals for 27 years. You would think by now I could have trained myself to be emotionless at these services. But that is not the case. Even though many of the people I bury possess the fruits of salvation and I am confident are in heaven...I still find myself shedding tears throughout the ceremony. I guess this is okay. Even Jesus wept over Lazarus because he loved him and he loved those who were weeping for him. So even though we know they are in a better place, I guess it's okay to cry. We are being like Jesus...and that's always a good thing!

Debbie was special. As I will say today, she was a infuencer...a leader. I am sure Debbie never seen herself as a leader. But who she was and what she did influenced the people around her. Debbie got things done. If something needed to be done, she would volunteer to do it. Yes, she was busy. Busier than most. She was a wife, a mother, a businesswoman, a nurse, a cell leader, a Sunday School teacher, a public speaker, a counselor to many, a grandmother, a board member, and a County Comissionor's wife. But when the spirit of Christ in her saw a need she would use her giftings, time, or money to see that the need was met.

To say that Debbie's life was "a fruitful one" is an understatement. Everyday she was sowing seeds that multiplied and will be for years to come and throughout eternity. She understood thoroughly that God had appointed her to "bear fruit" and she was willing to stay connected to the Vine(Jesus) that allows for that to happen. Her relationship with Christ was the most important thing in her life and the good works (or fruit) flowed out of it.

I could go on and on. And I am sure in the days ahead I will write some more about Debbie. Today we will cemomorate her wonderful life. Yes, we will do it with tears only because like Jesus we loved her.

-Pastor

Giving Thanks is a Fruit of Salvation

As many of you have already heard, Debbie Kilburn passed away yesterday morning at the break of dawn. For Debbie, after a difficult night of unrest and pain, joy came in the morning. I am not just speaking in cliches, I sincerely believe that Christ came to receive her when He did to signify that her death represented the dawning of an eternal day with her heavenly Father in heaven.

Please keep Mike and the children in your prayers. The days ahead will not be easy ones. But the Spirit of God is the great Comforter to those that mourn. Debbie was a jewel. One of the most precious, Christ-centered women I have ever had the privilege of pastoring. She will be missed by all. I will have more comments in the days ahead.

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Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name."

Did you know giving thanks is not just a reason to have a holiday or is it just a quality of a good, moral person, but the fruit of thanksgiving is a fruit of those that are converted and saved. If you’re soundly saved, there will be a cry within your heart, “thanks be to God for the unspeakable gift.” If there isn’t the fruit of thanksgiving, if there isn’t a gratitude burning in your soul, you may not be saved.

Sometimes, Christians who have been saved for many years allow the cares of this life to suppress their gratitude of salvation. I think that's why it is important that we constantly "remember" the cross of Christ and the great sacrifice He made for us at Calvary. When we do this daily, the response is one of sacrificial praise and thanksgiving unto God for our costly salvation.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

-Pastor Randy

Praying Prayers of Thanks

I love this particular week of the year. It really is a week we should designate for offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving. We will do that this week on this blog. I will give you a few comments and a offer you a thanksgiving prayer that you can pray today. I encourage you to make it a week of thanks!

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God saw you when you were in your mother’s womb (Ps. 139:13-16). He knew your mother and father and the circumstances of the home where you were to grow up. He knew the schools you would attend and the neighborhood in which you would live.

God gave you the ability to survive and walked with you through good times and bad. He gave you survival techniques and guardian angels to keep and protect you (Ps. 91:11). He chose you before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him in love (Eph. 1:4).

He cried with you when you cried. He laughed with you when you laughed. He was grieved when you were misunderstood and treated unfairly. He watched and waited, looking forward to the day when you would receive Jesus as your Savior. To as many as received Him gave He the power, the right, and the authority to become the sons of God (John 1:12 AMP). He longs for your fellowship, desiring for you to know Him more and more intimately.

Your survival techniques were probably different than mine. Whatever they were, and whatever your life may have been like up to this point, the peace of God can change the regrets and the wounds of the past into thanksgiving and praise. You can experience wholeness by earnestly and sincerely praying this prayer.

Daily Prayer of Thanksgiving

Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus. With the help of the Holy Spirit and by Your grace, I join with the heavenly host making a joyful noise to You and serving You with gladness! I come before Your presence with singing!

Lord, I know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that You are God! It is You Who made us, not we ourselves [and we are Yours]! We are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture.

Father, I enter into Your gates with thanksgiving and present an offering of thanks. I enter into Your courts with praise! I am thankful and delight to say so. I bless and affectionately praise Your name! For You are good and Your mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting. Your faithfulness and truth endure to all generations. It is a good and delightful thing to give thanks to You, O Most High.

Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, perfect the fruit of my lips. Help me draw thanksgiving forth from my innermost resources; reach down into the most secret places of my heart that I may offer significant thanksgiving to You, Father.

Thank You for my parents who gave me life. I am grateful for the victories and achievements I have experienced in spite of my hurts — the bruises and the abuses that boxed me in when I was a small child. You used them for good even though Satan intended them for my destruction.

You prepared me to listen to the inner voice — the voice of Your Holy Spirit.

Thank You for Your grace, which is teaching me to trust myself and others. Thank You for life — life in all its abundance.

It was You Who gave me a desire to pray, and I am grateful for the prayer closet where we meet, and I thank You for Your Word. Life is exciting, and I am grateful that I am alive for such a time as this.

Thank You for past and present relationships. I learn from those who oppose me and from those who are for me. You taught me to recognize and understand my strengths and weaknesses. You gave me discernment and spiritual understanding. I enter Your gates with thanksgiving in my heart.

You are my Father. I am Your child, loved by You unconditionally. I rejoice in You, Lord, and give thanks at the remembrance of Your holiness.

I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony.

In the name of Jesus, amen.


Scripture References:
Psalm 100:1-5 AMP Philippians 2:13
Psalm 92:1 AMP Esther 4:14
Psalm 138:8 Psalm 100:4
Hebrews 13:15 Philippians 3:1
Genesis 50:20 NIV Psalm 30:4
John 10:10 Revelation 12:11

Sunday Wrap Up

Great weekend of worship services! Great preaching by Rick Lairsey. I appreciate everyone who came out, participated, and gave in the offerings.

Please continue to remember the Kilburn family, little Hannah Taulbee and I know the McBeath children were sick today, so please remember them in your prayers.

Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving week. May God's traveling mercies be with you!

-Pastor Randy

Some Saturday Thoughts...

* We had a wonderful service tonight at Kings Point with Evangelist Rick Lairsey. Not a bad crowd. Could it have been better...still too much complacency out there! My prayer is one day that will change. But I am afraid it will be very painful for the body of Christ.

* Debbie Kilburn is not doing very well. Please remember Debbie, Mike, Stacey, Suzi, Steve, and Stephanie in your prayers.

* Please remember little Hannah Taulbee in your prayers. She recently had a six-hour surgery and is in quite a bit of pain as she recovers.

* I appreciate John Bauer and those that went with him this morning to the Gospel Rescue Mission. I am sure they were a blessing to all the homeless that ate breakfast this morning.

Well, its been a busy, long day. I hope to see you in God's house in the morning.

-Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown..."The End of Empire America"

If you don't believe that God gives His people in modern times prophetic visions and prophetic words, then you probably will not want to read the following. If you are overly optimistic about our country and believe that everything will return to normal soon and the U.S. will continue to be the world's superpower, then you probably should not read the following. If you are comfortable in this world and are not ready for the rapture or the bad times that lie ahead for this world, then you definitely don't want to read the below article.

This article appeared in Andrew Strom's website called prophetic@revivalschool.com. In the past, I have found this site and Andrew's ministry to be very credible and most if not all of the prophetic words to be accurate.

THE END of EMPIRE AMERICA
-by Robert I Holmes.

This article will cover a range of issues which have been brewing
for six to twelve months in my heart. History will judge America as
an empire. That empire is coming to an end. The election of Barak
Obama is a significant prophetic event, marking the sunset of that
empire, and the rising of other powers in the earth who represent
ancient powers and civilisations. These ideas have consequences
for believers living both in the US and the countries who rely on her
(like Australia). But to address those things, I need to go back
eight years.

Standing in Upstate New York in 2000, I had a conversation with
the Lord which I shall never forget. The Lord asked me "How long
does an empire last?" to which I asked, "Am I standing in an
empire?" [it did not occur to me that I was standing in the Empire
State!] Rather than answering me directly, He said, "All empires
come to an end". I pondered this for a moment. What empire?
Was this country coming to an end? Then He asked a third
question: "How do people position themselves as an empire nears
its eventual end?" The implications of his line of thought were clear.
America had become an empire, had influenced the world, but was
now nearing the end of her reign as a sovereign super power. God
wanted his people to know, their day in the sun is ending; the
sunset is coming. He wanted them to make preparations and
adjustments.

What is an Empire?

The concept of an American Empire was first popularized in the
aftermath of the Spanish-American War of 1898 (during which it
took control of the Philippines and other Pacific island nations).
America rates as an empire not only because of her global
sovereignty but because of her super power status.

She is actually the world's first "hyper power". Hubert Vedrine, the
French Foreign Minister stated in July 2003 that, "The United
States of America today predominates on the economic, monetary,
technological and in the cultural arena in terms of power and
influence it is not comparable to anything known in modern history -
in short the US is a hyper puissance [hyper power]".

Alexander Cometh!

In 1999, as I prepared to travel to the US on ministry, the Lord gave
me a very unusual prophetic word. He said that, "In the days of
Babylon, when her walls stood wide and her leaders stood tall, her
defences were strong and her campaigns victorious, Alexander the
Great came and defeated her. In the same way, my Alexander will
stand in the very midst of the United States of America".

The phrase "in the same way" indicates that America's walls are
wide, her leaders stand tall, her defences are strong, her
campaigns until now have been victorious. But a man like
Alexander - someone God refers to as "my Alexander" will stand
in her midst, victorious and defeat her. Alexander the Great, a
Mediterranean Greek, defeated Darius the Mede in 331BC at the
Battle of Gaugamela, and the gates of Babylon swung open to him
(when he was just 25 years old). He stood in the midst of the
courtyard declaring himself king. He then spent considerable time
and effort trying to restore Babylon to its former glory.

As I prayed in preparation for going to the US two weeks ago on
ministry again, I had a vision of a map of America from high above.
There, almost in the centre of it was a marketplace. I zoomed
down toward the marketplace, and saw a man standing there. I
recognised by the Spirit that it was Alexander the Great, standing
in a dusty, sandstone area, sword lifted high, victorious.

I believe that God's "Alexander" is Barak Obama. He has now
stood in the middle of America, and declared his victory speech in
Grant Park in Chicago. There, he prophetically declared, "Change
has come to America,". Yes indeed, it has. Barak, apart from
having the appearance of a Middle Eastern or African man, is also
very young and inexperienced. Barak Obama has not even had a
full year in his senate position. I do not question the right of a 47
year old to rule a nation, but his inexperience is not reduced by his
amazing oratory skill. "Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
you will make them princes throughout [in all] the earth," (Psalm 45:16 NIV).

He represents the end of empire America as we know it, and the
opening of a new regime, one which, like Alexander, represents a
conflagration of old powers: European, Middle Eastern and Asian.
He will try to restore America's glory, but in doing so relegate her
to second position on the global scene.

Chinese communist armies may well stand ready to invade the US,
but she is extremely well guarded. Muslim extremists are surely
planning further self-destructive attacks on US soil, but she is well
prepared. It is certain that European economies seek to outflank
the US, but given the present economic collapse, their hopes fall
with the US.

There remains one great enemy the US has no protection against
at all: themselves. It is to ourselves we must look. The society we
have created, the environment we have destroyed, the economy
we have overtaxed, the people we have abandoned, the poor we
have ignored, the sin we have run toward, the morals we have
abandoned. These things must change.

- Arrogance and greed are their own poison.

- Pride brings its own inevitable fall.

- Moral corruption is its own debilitating cancer.

America Is In the Cycle

In a substantial review of empires, Salem Kirban concluded that
"world dominating civilizations progress through the following fairly
well defined sequence of stages."

- Bondage;

- Spiritual faith/ revival;

- Courage/ war;

- Liberty for the people;

- Prosperity/ abundance/ wealth;

- Complacency/ apathy;

- Dependency/ debt;

- Moral corruption/ addiction;

- Bondage.

It does not take an historian or a scholar to see that America has
traversed her way through this very cycle of life, and finds herself in
the dependency/debt and moral corruption/ addiction stages.
National debt stands at 10,639,613,228,421 today (that's ten point
six trillion and rising). It is the most indebted nation on earth. Debt
stands at 70% of GDP. And to whom is that money owed? The US
government itself owns about 43% of it. The next largest holder is
the US Federal Reserve, and after that: Japan, China, Britain and
Oil countries of the Middle East (who together hold 29%, which is
more than private sector Americans). About 66% of the debt
owned by foreign nations is held by banks of other countries, in
particular the central banks of Japan and China.

Recall the prophetic words about the end of an empire, preparing
for the days to come, and the appearance of an Alexander figure -
the era of America's dominance is closing. Barak will oversee the
increase of influence of foreign powers in the US: the power of
ancient nations and forces. Specifically: European, Middle Eastern
and Asian. The everyday mortgages of middle income Americans
are owned by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, which in turn are
heavily indebted to Japan, China and Middle Eastern oil states.
This situation will only get more and more entwined. America
stands a very real exposure to risk should foreign banks stop
buying Treasury securities or start selling them heavily.

This risk was addressed in a recent report issued by the Bank of
International Settlements which stated, "Foreign investors in U.S.
dollar assets have seen big losses measured in dollars, and still
bigger ones measured in their own currency. While unlikely, a
sudden rush for the exits cannot be ruled out completely." (9). One
economic analyst, Nouriel Roubini keenly observes, "The US has
squandered its uni-polar moment, the decline of the American
Empire - as the US was a global empire - has started... We are
indeed slowly moving towards a multi-polar world where there will
be a balance of Great Powers rather than the hegemony of a single
hyperpower."

Change of Government, But No Change of Heart

There will be a change of president in the White House in January,
2009. The US president is moving from Republican to Democrat,
but that does nothing to change the heart of the nation. The rise of
a Black leader does nothing to address the moral malady she is in.
Obama is not the nation's savior. The nation is already deep in the
throes of a national depression which will last between 2-10 years,
it is the most indebted nation in history, and no man can rescue
such a situation.

If Kirban is right, and if this word is true, the nation will bring
herself undone. She will decay, and implode - and then bondage
must come. As Irish philosopher Edmund Burke once said,
"Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and
appetite be placed somewhere, and the less of it there is within,
the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal
constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be
free. Their passions forge their fetters," (11). Our passions must
necessarily forge external fetters to govern us. Famine, strife,
martial law, war, invasion and poverty ensue.

God calls Barak Obama "my Alexander". His standing in the midst
of America, victorious, was a prophetic announcement that change
indeed has come to America. The American Empire is coming to
an end. There is a global shift from a single super power to the rise
of other powers in the earth. These ideas have consequences for
believers living both in the US and the countries who rely on her.
Our world is getting set to change!

Now God asks, "How will you position yourself as the empire
nears its eventual end?"

~This article has been slightly abridged for space. To read the
entire piece, please go to- http://www.stormharvest.com.au/

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Andrew Strom,
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West Auckland 0650,
New Zealand.

Satanic Practices and Doctrines and Your Children

Isaiah 47:9 Both of these will overtake you
in a moment, on a single day:
loss of children and widowhood.
They will come upon you in full measure,
in spite of your many sorceries
and all your potent spells.
10 You have trusted in your wickedness
and have said, 'No one sees me.'
Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you
when you say to yourself,
'I am, and there is none besides me.'
11 Disaster will come upon you,
and you will not know how to conjure it away.
A calamity will fall upon you
that you cannot ward off with a ransom;
a catastrophe you cannot foresee
will suddenly come upon you.
12 "Keep on, then, with your magic spells
and with your many sorceries,
which you have labored at since childhood.
Perhaps you will succeed,
perhaps you will cause terror.
13 All the counsel you have received has only worn you out!
Let your astrologers come forward,
those stargazers who make predictions month by month,
let them save you from what is coming upon you. 14 Surely they are like stubble;
the fire will burn them up.
They cannot even save themselves
from the power of the flame.
Here are no coals to warm anyone;
here is no fire to sit by.
15 That is all they can do for you—
these you have labored with
and trafficked with since childhood.
Each of them goes on in his error;
there is not one that can save you.

This was God's prophetic word to Babylon and the Chaldeans before His judgement came upon them. They were a people that practiced sorcery, spells, witchcraft, and astrology. God told them that they trusted in their wickedness, their own counsel and wisdom. But in the end it couldn't save them! The practice of the occult might make people think they have power and some kind of control, but in the end it has no power to save them from God's judgement. This is why God throughout the scriptures tells us to stay away from it. It's a waste of time. It is dabbling with spirits that are not of God and cannot do your life any good. God says through the prophet Isaiah "its all stubble."


I see so many parents today allowing their children to play around with things that God cammands us to stay away from. I wonder if they think they are smarter than God's word. I guess it is simply a rebellious spirit at work in parents; unless, they are just ignorant of what God says about sorcery and other withcraft related practices. And its not just in the Old Testament either, the New Testament says:

Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Galatians 5:19-21, Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

God's not kidding folks. When we promote or allow our children to see occultic movies, or read occultic books, or play around with occultic practices; we are allowing them to become familiar with demonic spirits as well as demonic doctrines. We are conditioning them toward the things and lies of Satan. Please love your children enough to give them instruction and direction from God's Word, not according to the trends of the day.

-Pastor Randy

Who is Suppose to Care for the Poor?

Psalm 41:1, 2 Blessed [is] he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; [and] he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

One of the greatest ways we as a nation and a people can guarantee God's blessing and prosperity is by caring for the poor. Unfortunately, by most indications, neither the government, the private sector, nor the church seems to be doing a very good job of this today. If I understand the scriptures correctly, the church has been given more responsibility by God to care for the poor than the government or private sector. I do believe God will "deliver in time of troubles and preserve, keep, and bless" any government or business that gives and cares for the poor; however, there seems to be an emphasis in the New Testament of the church giving to the poor as illustrated in Romans 15:26 where offerings were given to the poor in the church in Jerusalem.

What would happen if every church in America would care for the poor within the church? For one thing, a large part of the country's poor would then be cared for. Secondly, more of the poor would be coming to church if they knew that the church cared about their needs. As that happened, God would bless the church even more so that they could help and care for even more poor people which again would lessen the burden of the government.

As I understand the pure purpose of government is to "protect the people." Maybe we should let the government do what it is suppose to do and the church do what God calls it to do. Jesus said it best to the rich young ruler, "...One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." {Mark 10:31}

-Pastor Randy

Why God Places People into our Life

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person..
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend and they are.

They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons,things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.


Have a great day!

-Pastor

Monday Funnies

I hope your day goes better than this! Have a great Monday!

Bloopers video expired.

Sunday Wrap Up

Great day of worship today. The presence of God was very real in every service today. It was great to baptize in water Trish, Chelsea, and Candy...all new believers!

Super time of worship tonight. I appreciate everyone that hungers after God's Word enough to come out on Sunday night. One day this freedom to worship might be taken away. Often, we don't realize how precious something is until we don't have it. My prayer is that never happens. However, if the Lord's coming tarries very long, I'm afraid it could.

Have a great week!

-Pasgtor Randy

Some Saturday Thoughts...

If you are needing healing today, I encourage you to read the following scriptures and act on them. Jesus said all that is needed is faith the grain of a mustard seed to move a mountain.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and healing shall spring up quickly.
Isaiah 58:8

Who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that
we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness, by
whose stripes we were healed.
I Peter 2:24

He sent his word, and healed them, and
delivered them from their destructions.
Psalm 107:20

Daughter your faith has made you well, go in peace,
And be Healed of your disease.
Mark 5:34

Whatever you ask for in Prayer with faith you will receive.
Matthew 21:22

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the
Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight,
and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes,
I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have
brought upon the Eqyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
Exdous 15:26

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.
Psalm 103:3

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst
of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them
and health to all their flesh.
Proverbs 4:20-22

But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised
for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5

Heal me, O Lord and I shall be healed; save me,
and I shall be saved; for thou art my praise.
Jeremiah 17:14

I hope to see you in the morning in God's house.

-Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown

What a beautiful, fall day. If you are like me, you have to be inside for most of it today, but the view's great anyhow. Let's enjoy it!

I hope you plan to be in God's house this weekend. I am extremely looking forward to our worship services this Sunday. Sunday evening I will be preaching and teaching on "Signs." Of course, I am referring to the signs in the bible that are everywhere warning us of what's ahead. All of us have a choice. We can read the signs and get ready to exit ahead, or we ignore them and stay on the road that has no more exits which leads to "great trouble and the outpouring of God's wrath upon the earth."

Me, I am ready to exit! I have my turn signal on and I can see the exit ahead. Yes, there maybe some obstacles and some temptations between now and then. But I am determined to exit with Christ when He comes. How about you?

Sunday Morning, sometime in the service, I will be sharing on "How to talk to children about the end times?" I don't know if that will be my entire message or just a brief message at the beginning of the service. We will see how the Spirit of God leads. But parents should know that not talking about it is not the answer. Children have questions and will even have more as we get closer and closer to the seven-year time of Tribulation. We as parents must be ready to answer them with wisdom, God's love, and with the truth from the scriptures. Knowledge of the rapture and what will follow can serve as a great deterrent from the world's lies and deception if it is shared by Spirit-led believers.

Well, have a wonderful weekend!

-Pastor

Signs of the End Times

Below, I have provided a list of signs in the Bible that point to the end times. These signs are becoming more and more frequent which means the rapture of the church and the beginning of the seven-year tribulation period is soon approaching. Are you ready?

-False Christ’s – Matt. 24:4-5; 23-26; Luke 21:8
-Wars, threats of war, world wars (“nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom”) – Matt.24:6-7; Luke 21:9-11
-Worldwide famine, plagues, earthquakes, signs in the heavens – Matt. 24:7; Luke 21:11 [Jesus said “ But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” Matthew 24:8]
-Christians to be arrested, persecuted, and killed. “And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.” - Matthew 24:10
-Christians will be betrayed by their own families. – Luke 21:16
-People will be saved through the persecution. – Luke 21:19
-False Prophets deceiving many. - Matthew24:11
-Sin will be rampant everywhere; the love for God in many Christians will grow cold . – Matthew 24:12
-The gospel will be preached throughout the whole world to all nations and the end will come. – Matt. 24:14
-People will party and live life to its fullest all the way up until Jesus Second Coming. Like Noah they will ignore the warnings given by God. Christians must be watchful , alert, ready for the Lord’s coming– Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 21:34-36; I Thess. 5:4-8
-Homosexuality would be increasingly evident at the end of the age. - 2 Timothy 3:3
-Stress would be part of living. - 2 Timothy 3:1
-There would be a cold religious system, in denying God's power . - 2 Timothy 3:5
-Men would substitute fantasy in place of Christian truth. - 2 Timothy 4:4. (This is so evident at Christmas when the birth of the Savior is lost behind the myth of Santa Claus.)
-The fact that God once flooded the earth (the Noahic flood) would be denied. - 2 Peter 3:5-6. (There is a mass of fossil evidence to prove this fact, yet it is flatly ignored by the scientific world because of its uncanny implication.)
-The institution of marriage would be forsaken by many, - 1 Timothy 4:3
-Increase in vegetarianism. - 1 Timothy 4:3-4
-The possession of Jerusalem would be at the center of international turmoil - Zechariah 12:3
-Knowledge would increase - Daniel 12:4
-There would be hypocrites within the Church. - Matthew 13:25-30
-The future would seem fearful to many - Luke 21:26
-Humanity would become materialistic. - 2 Timothy 3:4
-There would be many involved in travel. – Daniel 12:4
-Youth would become rebellious. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy (2Timothy 3:2)
-Men would mock the warning signs of the end of the age saying, "for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Peter 3:4). The Bible even reveals their motivation, they love lust (verse 3). They fail to understand that a day to the Lord is as a thousand years to us. God is not subject to the time that He created. He can flick through time as we flick through the pages of a history book. The reason He seems to be silent, is because He is patiently waiting, not willing that any perish, but that all come to repentance.

If you are not ready, confess the with your mouth the following and believe it in your heart as you say it (Romans 10:9, 10).

A - Admit that you are a sinner and that you need a Savior.
B - Believe that God sent Jesus Christ to die for your sins and He arose from the grave three days later as the scriptures state.
C - Confess him as your Savior and Lord. Repent (turn from) your sins and trust Christ to put His spirit in you and begin to change you.

Don't wait. Jesus is coming!

-Pastor Randy

The fruit of a Religious Spirit

1Samuel 2:29 "Why, Eli, do you honor your sons more than me by letting them fatten themselves on the best parts of all the sacrifices my people offer to me?"

Yesterday, we seen what a religious spirit looked like in Eli's treatment of Hannah as she prayed in the temple. Today in I Samuel 2, we see the fruit of a religious spirit versus the fruit of a humble, dependent spirit that seeks after God.

As the chapter opens, we read about Hannah rejoicing in the Lord in her prayer after God granted her a son. Remember, she actually offered this son, Samuel, back to the Lord in the sense of a firstfruits offering. God then blessed her with five more children. As Samuel grows up serving in the Temple, we see God's blessing and favor upon his life. However, we see the opposite of that in Eli's household...the spirit of religion.

In I Samuel 2:12-17, we see how Eli's sons (who were priests that worked in the temple) were showing disrespect for God's house by putting their own appetites and desires first before their service unto God in the eating of meat that was offered as sacrifices for the sins of the people. It didn't stop there, they also were sleeping with the women that worked at the entrance of the temple. Even worse, their father (the High Priest) basically slapped their hands and refused to discipline his sons.

Self-indulgence and self-centeredness is characteristic of a religious spirit. It may look good and "spiritual" on the outside. It may even know how to say all the right things in order to deceive others and even him or herself, but it is far from the "deny yourself, pick up the cross, and follow me" spirit that characterizes the true disciple of Christ.

As we see in this story, God detests a religious spirit and will judge it every time. Read what God told Eli, "I, the LORD God of Israel, promised in the past that your family and your clan would serve me as priests for all time. But now I say that I won't have it any longer! Instead, I will honor those who honor me, and I will treat with contempt those who despise me. Listen, the time is coming when I will kill all the young men in your family and your clan, so that no man in your family will live to be old. You will be troubled and look with envy on all the blessings I will give to the other people of Israel, but no one in your family will ever again live to old age. Yet I will keep one of your descendants alive, and he will serve me as priest. But he will become blind and lose all hope, and all your other descendants will die a violent death.When your two sons Hophni and Phinehas both die on the same day, this will show you that everything I have said will come true." [I Samuel 2:30-32. GNB]

Samuel, however, the fruit of Hannah's spirit, grew and walked in the favor of God and the people. Eventually, he became the High Priest of Israel that was used of God to bring David to the throne of Israel.

I don't know about you, but my prayer today is "God let me possess a broken and a contrite heart, O God, which you will not despise." [Psalm 51:17, paraphrase]

-Pastor Randy

What a Religious Spirit Looks Like

"How long are you going to stay drunk?" he asked. "Sober up!"

These words come from the High Priest, Eli, to a woman named Hannah in I Samuel 1:14. Barren, brokenhearted Hannah was crying and praying in the temple asking God to give her a child. She promised God that if He would give her a child she would never cut his hair...he would be completely devoted to God. The scriptures says that she prayed so long in the temple that her lips were moving as she prayed silently. In other words, she was exhausted...emotionally and physically. This was a constant burden that she was carrying. She was desperate and was pleading her God for a miracle.

What was the High Priest's response? He (Eli) thought she was drunk. He told her to sober up. Wow! Ladies, this is not just another example of a insensitive man to a woman's needs, but this is a picture of a relgious spirit in the house of God.

Eli's response speaks for itself. He didn't have a clue. He showed no compassion, not even an ounce of sympathy toward this agonizing woman in the house of God calling out with everything in her to her God in prayer. Eli was just another religious fixture in the temple. He showed no feelings, no sensitivity to the things of God and toward the people of God. Eli, was a big, heavy man who had become very complacent in his duties and his calling. He is seen in this cahpter as seated at the doors of the temple just doing his job. And that is just what his ministry and calling had turned into...a job. A way of providing for he and his family. A Wal Mart door greeter would have been more helpful than Eli!

This is what a spirit of religion looks like. It can happen to anyone. We become insensitive to the needs of others and to the Spirit of God. We are going through religious motions with our minds on other things and in other places. What a dangerous place to be! As we will find in I Samuel 2 tomorrow.

Make it a great day!

-Pastor Randy

Sunday Wrap Up

Super day of worship today! This afternoon's womens encounter celebration was great. The testimonies were beautiful. Even tonight in the 6 pm worship some of the ladies that attended the encounter were there sharing what God had done for them...as tired as they were.

You know, we have a lot of wonderful people at KP. Two them are Gerry and Wilma Chess. I wish I had a hundred of them. They are such a blessing to our church. They both are always so positive, supportive, and are hard workers. Gerry is now retired and he wants to even do more at the church now. We are so blessed to have these special servants of God. I mean that...thats exactly what they are!

Two weekends from this weekend on Saturday, and Sunday, November 22 and 23, Brother Rick Lairsey will be with us. Please make plans now to join for that special weekend of services.

Well I am tired and going to bed. Its been a long weekend. Have a great Monday!

-Pastor Randy

Some Saturday Thoughts

Gabe and I just got back from being in Indiana since last night. We went over to see my father. He's not doing real good. I know many of you are praying for him and I really appreciate it. As I was driving home today, the Lord gave me a vision of him as a young, healthy man in heaven. He was smiling and excited about being there. Thats what I want for him when God is ready. He knows whats best in His time.

Please remember Debbie Kilburn in your prayers. She started her chemotherapy this week. Pray for Mike, Debbie, and the entire family. Pray with faith!

It was good to talk to Phyllis Titus this week and hear of the miracle healing that God has done in her. The doctors pretty much gave up on her. She had several brain tumors that were cancerous. But last week the doctors told her she was cancer free. Wow! We can never give up on the healing power of Christ!

I hope to see you in the morning. The Holy Spirit gave me a great message early Saturday morning that I can't wait to share with us all. Worsahip like crazy tomorrow!

-Pastor Randy

Friday Countdown...a few final election impressions

I want a share a few "final impressions" regarding the election this past week.

#1 - There is a thought process going around among some Christians that it doesn't matter whether I vote or not because God places in authority who He wills. First of all, it is true God does place in authority who He wills. But we must also remember that in the scriptures we have many examples of God placing people in authority who the people wanted not so much who He wanted. Of course, King Saul, Israel's first King is probably the most well-known example that comes to mind. God wanted to continue to be Israel's King but Israel wanted a man. God warned them and gave them what they wanted. By the way, it didn't turn out very well. What God told them would happen happened.

#2 - Nationwide, the evangelical vote (KP is considered an evangelical church) went 76% for McCain, 24% for Obama. Obama received about 1% of the vote in 2008 than Kerry did in 2004. Do I have a comment on that? I don't know how a born-again Christian could vote for any political candidate who supports any kind of abortion. You say, well what about when the Mother's life is threatened. My response is, "Wake up, its the 21st century, that's unheard of today."

#3 - No matter who was elected President, if he doesn't surround himself with wise, godly people who are humble and pray, the result will be the same. AS A NATION WE ARE IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT ON THE RESPIRATOR WITH NOT MUCH HOPE LEFT...OUR ONLY HOPE IS THAT GOD HAS MERCY UPON US!

#4 - The one good thing that happened in this election for the true Christian (no matter who you voted for) was that every state that put it to a referendum(including California) upheld that marriage is still between a man and a woman, not between two people of the same sex. Praise God there is evidence of a little moral sanity left.

See you in church this weekend! Please keep the Women's encounter in your prayers! Over 100 ladies will be attending.

-Pastor Randy

Thursday Lite

I trust everyone is doing well today. I met with Pastor Alan Weaver from Hamilton this morning for breakfast. We spent some time today planning a Pastor's Pastoral Covenant Group retreat that will happen in about two weeks. Alan is a Lee college roommate of mine and a godly man whose walk with God I have great confidence in.

Annette, of course, is getting ready for encounter this week. The week before the encounter is pretty hard on her. With four long days at work, preparing for worship and sessions, and the attacks from the enemy; she's pretty much "pulling it uphill" all week. My wife is pretty amazing. She squeezes all she can out of every waking hour of each day. Gabe and I are blessed to have her.

Gabe's soccer and football seasons are over now. However, he will tell you the football season ended to early. He loves kicking for the football team. He will be working with a kicking coach over the winter and through some of the spring. He also will be working some to help ole dad with car insurance, gas, and the normal teen expenses including keeping the fridge stocked.

My dad is still in the nursing home and Mom is running back and forth taking care of him. Thank you so much for your prayers. Its pretty hard on them right now, but their making it.

Well, I'm keeping it lite today. See ya Friday.

-Pastor

Change Has Come to the White House - Now, What About God's House?

President-Elect Obama declared last night, "Change has come to America." Obama's inference is to the American Presidency and American government, but his election underscores more than just a political change. President-Elect Obama, the person, reflects the changing ethnic makeup of the nation that he will soon lead.

It is no secret that Obama comes from a interracial family. America too has become a nation of many different ethnic makeups where people often marry or have children with someone outside their own respective ethnic culture. At one time (even in my lifetime), this was viewed as taboo. Of course now, especially with the thirty and under crowd, it is seen as very normal and universally accepted.

According to David T. Olson, author of "the American Church in Crisis," our country's changing ethnic makeup is creating three trends that every church in America needs to address.

First, America is becoming more and more multiethnic with every passing year due to immigration and birthrates. In 2005, the Hispanic birthrate(99 in 1000) almost doubled the Anglo(58 in 1000) in America. Even the African-American
(67 in 1000) and the Asian (67 in 1000) birthrates were higher than the Anglo.

Secondly, global Christianity is changing. The Christian church is growing rapidly in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres, and declining in the Northern and Western hemisphere. As the power centers move to the south and east, the multiethnic church is becoming the normal and natural place of Christianity.

Thirdly, David T. Oslon writes, "The key influence of multiethnicity is its challenge to power and privilege. In the past in America, these qualities have been the domain of Anglos. Jesus himself countered the Roman culture view of these two traits when he challenged the Roman view of power and authority with the model of servanthood. I think it is true that we as American Christians have let the world determine our view of power and authority rather than the Scriptures. The result has been a Anglo Saxon Christianity in America that is increasingly affluent, suburban, and educated. A future multiethnic church will undoubtedly bring to the Christian church a new awareness of these issues from a biblical perspective so that the new people of God, the church, may truly reflect the diversity and equality inherent in the gospel."

The acid test for every church in America is how we will choose to answer the question I asked continually in my book "The Culture Crafters," - Will we choose to engage our culture as the New Testament church did? Or, will we continue to shrink in number and influence by expecting the world and its needs to come to us within the four walls of our churches?

Rapid change is taking place in America and now we are even seeing it in politics and the White House. What about God's House? How will God's House respond to the multiethnic ever-changing face of America?

-Pastor Randy

It Looks Like President Obama at this Point

Well at 9:30 pm and all the major nextworks having already called Pennsylvania and Ohio for Obama - its beginning to look like an Obama win. If it holds, according to the media, America's government is moving more to the left or the liberal side. This really should not surprise us as Americans. With immigration, secularization, a very liberal and immoral media, and add to that a very weak, anemic church in America...our government is a reflection of the grass roots. Research shows that as a nation we are becoming less moral and more pluralistic.

What does that mean for we that are Christians? It means that we must let the light of Christ shine like never before. We must be bold for Christ and stop assuming or living like we live in a "christian" nation. We must get back to the fundamentals of the Christian faith like prayer, fasting, Bible reading, godly living, and we must see corporate revival in the American church. We have to stop the complacency and truly repent from our sins. I really believe we are in for some very difficult times in 2009 and not just because President Obama will be in power. This is truly a time "to draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to us" (James 4:8).

The election changes nothing for the true follower of Christ. Our best is yet to come! Remember, what we sang Sunday "...surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all these days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever..." (Psalm 23).

Monday Funnies... a little political humor before Election Day

"And have you seen Sarah Palin and John McCain. I mean if you look at them, it’s kind of interesting. He looks like the elderly husband who would have her followed by a private detective. A little bit, don’t you think?" --David Letterman

"But here's what I like about John McCain. He's an optimist. Always sees the glass as half full of his teeth." --David Letterman

"Joe the plumber was supposed to appear at a John McCain rally today, but didn't show up. Yeah. So, apparently, the guy really is a plumber." --Conan O'Brien

"Well, if you've got book sales of 25 million..." --after being asked by Rev. Rick Warren, best-selling author of "The Purpose-Driven Life," to define "rich." Obama's remark drew laughter and a high-five from Warren

Be sure to vote tomorrow! Make it a great week!

-Pastor Randy

Sunday Wrap Up

It was another great Sunday at Kings Point. I really mean that, I'm not exaggerating. Service this morning was wonderful..."a pep session for Jesus" someone called it. I met with around 20 plus cell leaders this morning and another ten cell leaders tonight. It was great to hear the wonderful reports of what God is doing through our cell ministry. We have some dedicated cell leaders who genuinely care and love people. God has and continues to raise up a powerful army of ministers at Kings Point through the P12 Vision.

Chris McBeath did a wonderful job tonight sharing the message. It was a powerful message designed to get people ready to cast their votes Tuesday as the Word of God directs and the Holy Spirit leads. Great job, Chris!

Over one hundred ladies will attend the Encounter this weekend. Please be praying that women's lives will be radically changed for Christ. I ask that you also hold up the Women's Encounter team as they prepare to minister at the encounter.

Well, I think thats a wrap. I'm tired. The extra hour today wore me out. Have a great week!

-Pastor Randy

Some Saturday Thoughts

Are you ready to worship tomorrow? Do you put as much into preparation for worship as Bengal fans do in preparation to attend a football game?

Usually on my way to the church on Sunday mornings, I will run into some Bengal fans as early as 8 am at the UDF. Five hours before the game they are already dressed in their Bengal jerseys and buying tailgating supplies. Now remember the Bengals are 0-8which means they have no wins but eight losses. But you wouldn't know that by watching their fans before the game. Many of them will arrive two to three hours early to tailgate in the parking lot. Some don't go to the game but they will go to a local restaurant or pub to watch the game dressed in Bengal gear. Many of them paint their faces, wear masks, and spend $75 to $100 for Bengal jerseys to wear to the game. They will pay at least $15 for parking and then pay another $50 or higher for a ticket. After the kickoff, they will experience a roller coaster of emotions watching their invested team march up and down the field. During the game they will probably drop at least another $50 on drinks and food. Without fail this year, they have left the stadium frustrated after watching their team lose the game.

Now that's commitment! For many of them, it is their worship unto their god.

How does the average Christian prepare for their worship unto the real and only God? I don't even want to go there. But I doubt that most Christians are as committed more than most Bengal fans. Why is that? What makes us want to get ourselves ready to worship God? The answer: our love for God. When you truly love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind...you will prepare yourself to worship Him on Sunday.

How do we get prepared to worship on Sunday? Here are some ways...

- Have some pray and worship time on Saturday. Pray for the service, the pastor, the worship leaders, and the teachers.
- On Sunday morning, have a devotional time before you to go to worship. Let God speak to you about your upcoming corporate time of worship. Go with an EXPECTATION TO RECEIVE FROM GOD.
- Have a family prayer time Saturday night preparing your entire family for worship.
- Put some praise music on in your house as you eat breakfast and get ready to come to God's house.
- Play some praise worship in your car or truck.
- Arrive at the church ready and anxious to worship and don't let no one thing or person keep you from entering into His Holies of Holies. Open up your heart and receive!

I pray you will experience a great day of worship tomorrow!

-Pastor Randy